Battle River, river in central Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, that is the largest tributary of the North Saskatchewan River. Rising in the Battle and Pigeon lakes 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Edmonton, Alta., it flows eastward through a farming and oil-producing area for more than 350 miles before joining the North Saskatchewan River opposite North Battleford, Sask. It was named after the many battles between the Cree and Blackfoot Indians, which took place along its banks.